Technology and Support

Purchasing Guide - Computers

Computer technology is playing an ever-increasing role on college campuses for coursework, research, and communication. If you are planning to purchase a computer, you may be overwhelmed by all the terminology and choices. Here are some general guidelines and recommendations to help you navigate through the complexity.

If you have any questions regarding the purchase of a computer, broadcast and photography equipment as it pertains to your journalism concentration, please consult with one of the members of the Technology staff. It is critical to check with the Technology office if you plan to use personal equipment for school assignments (this applies mostly to video cameras, audio recording devices and photographic equipment).

Begin with the big picture

Personal computers fall into two broad families:

  • The Macintosh, which uses the Mac OS 10.4.6 (aka Tiger) operating system and is manufactured by Apple Computer
  • The PC, which uses the Microsoft Windows operating system and is manufactured by a variety of companies

Whichever family you are considering, the computer consists of the following components:

  • System unit, which includes the processor, memory, hard drive, CD or DVD drive, and which can also include a modem, floppy disk drive, Ethernet card, and sound card monitor (on an Apple iMac, this is integrated with the system unit)
  • Keyboard and mouse, speakers, software, printer

If you are purchasing a PC rather than a Macintosh, you can minimize potential problems by selecting a manufacturer, such as Dell, Gateway, or Hewlett-Packard. These manufacturers generally use name-brand components and offer reliable customer support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to own a computer?

The Journalism School does not require students to own a computer but recommends that you consider buying your own computer, if possible. Owning your computer can prove to be indispensable in meeting course requirements on your own schedule and taking full advantage of the technology resources and services that are offered at the Journalism School. But the school provides computer labs on the 5th, 6th and 8th floor where students can work on papers, perform research activities, and access the Internet and e-mail. The Journalism School also has wireless access points on all floors.

Should I buy a desktop or laptop computer?

Either one is acceptable. You should base your decision on the model that best suits your needs. Desktop models are typically less expensive, more expandable, and often more comfortable to use than laptops. They are designed for stationary locations, so they take up more space than a laptop.

Laptops have major advantages for journalists. They are mobile, compact, and ideal for taking advantage of the Journalism School's free wireless access points throughout the building (and campus). Laptops, however, are also vulnerable to theft and damage, more expensive to buy and repair, and have a smaller screen and keyboard than a desktop model.

What kind of computer should I buy?

You can minimize potential problems by selecting a manufacturer such as Apple, Dell, Gateway, HP, and IBM. These manufacturers generally use name-brand components and offer reliable customer support. The Journalism School recommends Apple Macintosh (for content creation, video and audio editing and photojournalism) or Dell, but other large brand names (Gateway, HP, Sony) are also suitable.

Does the Journalism School offer discounts on computers?

The Journalism School does not sell computers, but Apple and Dell offer educational discounts through the University: http://www.columbia.edu/AcIS/sales/

Apple's School of Journalism store offers a Mac Pro/Display bundle with a discount over and above the education discount. This is for Journalism students only, it isn’t available on the regular Columbia Store.
Apple's School of Journalism store

Educational software prices are also available through the Columbia bookstore as well as a number of websites such as PC Connection or Software House International. These sites often have a special section with academic/educational prices.

What Features Should I Look For?

Generally, if you are buying a new computer, Computer Services recommends the following minimum requirements for a basic system:

PC System Configuration:

  • Operating System: Windows XP
  • Processor: 2Ghz or higher
  • RAM: 512MB or higher
  • Hard Disk: 60GB
  • Modem and/or Ethernet Card
  • Optical Drive: CD-RW or DVD Drive

Mac System Configuration:

  • Operating System: Mac OS X 10.3.9 (Panther), new systems will have MAC OS X 10.4.6 (Tiger)
  • Processor: 2Ghz or higher
  • RAM: 512MB or higher
  • Hard Disk: 60GB
  • Modem and/or Ethernet Card
  • Optical Drive: CD-RW or DVD Drive

 

What kind of printer should I buy?

A color ink jet printer is a good choice because of low cost and versatility. Printer manufacturers include Canon, Epson, and Hewlett-Packard. The Journalism School does not endorse a particular printer brand but Epson and Hewlett-Packard printers are generally used in the school for staff and faculty.

What software should I buy?

Overall, Microsoft Office is a very popular suite of programs used at the Journalism School. Depending on your concentration, other software may be of interest. Make sure that proper virus protection is installed on you PC. Virus protection is generally not necessary for the Macintosh platform, but it is always recommended.

Focus on the particulars

To make the best choice, it is important to take the following items into account:

Processor

The processor is the heart of the system and affects the speed of the computer, as well as what software it can run. PCs generally use processors manufactured by Intel. Intel processors include the Pentium 4 and the lower-end Celeron. AMD processors include the Athlon and the lower end Duron. Apple's Macintosh computers use the PowerPC G5 and Intel processors.

Processor speed is measured in megahertz (MHz; million cycles per second) or gigahertz (GHz; billion cycles per second). A processor rated at 2.0GHz is generally faster than a similar one rated at 900MHz.

PC processors currently start at around 2.0GHz. Mac processors start at around 1GHz. Newer processors increasingly are measured in GHz. Note, however, that PC hardware and software is very different from Macs, so processor speed alone is not a useful measure when comparing computers within these two categories.

Memory

RAM (Random Access Memory) chips provide a temporary storage area where the computer loads and retrieves the instructions it needs to run a program as well as the data on which the program will work. The larger the storage space, the faster and better your computer will perform. The amount of RAM also affects how large a program you can run and how many programs you can run simultaneously. The recommended minimum memory is 512MB (megabytes).

Hard drive

The amount of hard disk space determines how much room you have to store your files and programs. At a minimum, it is best to get at least 60GB (gigabytes). Hard drive space is relatively inexpensive so it is better initially to buy more than you think you might need. Upgrading a hard drive is a relatively big job.

Flash drives

USB flash drives are compact and easy-to-use devices that are similar in use to your computer hard drive. USB flash drives slip into your pocket, conveniently around your neck or on a keychain for ultimate portable storage. USB flash drives are currently available with up to 8 GB storage capacity, and are available in a variety of storage sizes for different needs. USB flash drives are also commonly referred to as Pen drives and Thumb drives. A USB Flash drive is recommended.

External or Portable drives

A portable or external hard drive is quite a useful. It allows the user to back up or store important information off the main drive, large music files, DVD images, movies, disk images, and even a backup of your main internal hard drive, can all be kept securely and safely on an external hard drive. Any computer with USB or Firewire capability will recognize the external hard drive as a storage device.

CD, CD-RW and DVD drives

A CD or DVD drive is essential for installing software and is included with all new computers. CD-ROM (Compact Disc Read-Only Memory) drives enable you to read and play CDs. CD-RW (Compact Disc Rewritable) drives allow you to read and play CDs as well as back up your files and create music CDs. A CD-R (Compact Disc Recordable) disk can be written to only once. The second number indicates how fast it writes data using a CD-RW disk. A CD-RW disk can be written to and erased multiple times. Most desktop systems will have a CD-RW/DVD ROM combination drive.

DVD-ROM drives

Digital Versatile Disc Read-Only Memory drives play CDs as well as DVD movies. Note, however, that these drives cannot record CDs or DVDs. Note also, that DVD video is demanding on system resources and requires, among other things, an MPEG decoder card.

DVD-R drives

Digital Versatile Disc Recordable drives enable you to play and record CDs and DVDs. A DVD-R disk can be written to only once. These drives are available for both PCs and Macintosh computers.

DVD-RW drives

Digital Versatile Disc Rewritable drives allow you to play CDs and DVDs and record multiple times.

Zip drives

A Zip drive reads from and writes to removable Zip disks that store 100 MB, 250MB, and 750MB of data. This provides considerably more storage space than a floppy disk (1.44 MB) but less than a CD-R or CD-RW, which can store 650MB. Zip drives, however, have started to fall out of favor as CD-RW prices have dropped.

Floppy drives

Most PCs no longer come with an internal floppy drive. Apple Macs do not come equipped with one, but you can purchase an external floppy drive if you need it.

Video card

The video card provides the interface between the computer and the monitor. A standard video card with at least 64MB of video memory should be adequate.

Modem

A modem enables you to access the Internet over a phone line and is included with most new computer systems. The fastest modem you can buy transfers data at a rate of up to 56K (Kilobits per second). To access the Internet, you will also need an account with an Internet Service Provider.

Ethernet card

If you live in a Columbia University dorm, you can access the Internet through a high-speed Ethernet connection. To use the connection, you will need a 10/100 Base-T Ethernet card. Recommended brands include 3Com, SMC, Realtek, or D-link. You will also need an Ethernet card if you plan to use a high-speed DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) connection from your home. Note that DSL also requires a specialized DSL modem, which you can usually obtain through your DSL provider.

Ethernet cards are usually installed internally. External Ethernet adaptors, however, are also available to connect to your computer's USB port. Note that all Macs come with an Ethernet card.

Also check if your Ethernet card or adaptor comes with a 10/100 Base-T Category 5 (RJ45) cable. If not, you will need to purchase one separately. Make sure to bring this cable to school with you if you plan to use the high-speed network connection available in the Journalism School's dorms.

Cable Modem

You can also obtain a high-speed Internet connection through Time Warner Cable (aka Roadrunner). This requires a specialized cable modem, which you can usually purchase or rent through the cable company directly.

Sound card

A sound card and speakers enable you to listen to music and other audio files. Most computers come equipped with a standard "SoundBlaster compatible" sound card that should be adequate. SoundBlaster is an industry standard developed by Creative Labs. Speakers are also often included with a new computer system. If not, you can purchase an inexpensive pair, or alternatively, a set of headphones.

Monitor

A 17" monitor provides a good compromise between size and cost. The monitor should have a dot pitch of .28mm or lower (the lower the better). If space is an issue, consider a 15" monitor (used by the Apple iMac) or a flat panel LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) monitor. Flat panel LCD monitors are much less bulky than conventional CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) monitors and are becoming increasingly affordable.

One word of caution: Make sure to try the LCD monitor before buying it. Some people find certain models difficult to view. Also note that not all video cards can interface with an LCD monitor.

Software

Most computers come preloaded with the operating system (such as Windows XP Professional/Home Edition or Mac OS X) and a web browser (such as Internet Explorer). Additional software is often bundled in as well. This can include a basic office program and a virus protection program, such as Norton AntiVirus. Check that the original software CDs are included, as you may need them to reinstall a program at some point.

If you need additional software, note that the Columbia University Bookstore offers a variety of software titles, such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access), at discounted, academic prices.

Printer

An ink-jet printer is a good choice because of low cost and versatility (black & white as well as color printing) and is often included with a new computer system. Laser printers offer higher quality output, but are generally more expensive and print only in black & white (except for high-end models). You may need to purchase a printer cable separately.

Other considerations

You might also want to purchase a surge protector to protect the computer's circuitry in the event of an electrical spike. In addition, you may want to purchase floppy disks, as well as CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and/or Zip disks to transport and/or back up your files.